Death's Call (marauder's ear)

Why?

Hello, my name is Ailsa Marnishian and I am a normal person who lives in the Scottish Country side near the town of Loch Ness. 

Only an normal girl who can ask for the spirits help!!! I don't even know why people hold that against me, other than that I'm a normal girl. With my long untamable brown hair and sky blue eyes, I would, look like anyone else. But noooo people have to be critical. VERY critical. My family never like me. NEVER. 

Once when I was a little girl of 7 I over heard Mother and Father talking about how they didn't like me and how, when I was 15 they would, in a way disown me. That was a lot to take in for a 7 year old. Their words still float through my head.

 'She's a menace, that dam wine. so bloody strong.' 

'Why can't we just be rid for her now?'

 'Because she's not of age yet, 15's the age'

'You mean to tell me we have to look upon her ugly and ungrateful face for another 8 years!?'

'We just have to disown her latter'  

                                                                                                                                                                                            Yeah, that's my life in a nutshell. I was basically worded until midnightish and woke up at a white tailed Eagel's  fart (not literally though).                                                                                                              The only present I ever received was my Chestnut horse Armstrong. My younger sister Iona was the loved child of the family but we always shared a special relationship.                                            So, for the past 2 weeks we have been slowly collecting up items for survival. Like blankets, tents, sleeping bags and most of all food and water. Iona had been asking for money for the past month and every time, mother and father gave it to her. We were sorting it up in my small pouch that I kept under the cinders for the fire when it had died down and was cold. 

__________

Tonight we were leaving. And today was my 15th birthday. I expected nothing but I was surprised to see mother standing over me. In her hand she held a bag. Not a small bag not a large bag. A bag that was dropped by my side and out spilled ... blankets? clothes? Food ? water? A BRAND NEW LEATHER SADDLE?????? 

'15 is a big number, now go get breakfast' 

I looked at her, confused. She signed and motioned me to follow her. I obeyed. She lead me to the house. I stopped, I never had breakfast a the table for 8 years. But I followed, not wanting to get a beating from father. There in front of me was 4 plates. Father sat at the head and mother sat at his slide and Iona on the other and there next to Iona was a plate full for food and with my name on a tag in front of it. I timidity sat down. Everyone else dug in. I just stared at my plate. Was this real? Iona noticed my look and said

'Come one, we're not going to poison you' 

I smiled at her. Picking up my fork I stabbed my bacon and eggs with potato. After about 6 minutes I was done and feeling happy and full. The day after that was the best birthday I've ever had. Father took me on a horse ride and mother gave me a beautiful dress. Iona washed and combed my hair and that was the first time in 2 months had my hair been cleaned. It was wonderful.

 But I knew that deep down, they just wanted me to stay so that they could use my power. I wasn't stupid. Iona and I were preparing to leave at midnight. When mother and father were both asleep. Finally after 2 hours of twiddling our thumbs we suck out and left with all our supply's over our 2 horses. Iona's  was called Vixen and she was Armstrong's sister. 

With them both saddled and ready we were just riding out a candle light flickered on in Mother and Father's window. I motioned for Iona to quickly trot away. Faster and faster suddenly moving into a gallop. We heard shouts and yells come from the house and alerting our neighbours. I called on the spirits Kelpie and Abatwa to save us and give us time to make a new life. Thankfully they heard and diverted Mother and Father to go down towards the town, while we went up the north bank. Step and rocky it was but not with the  water of Kelpie under the horses feet. We rose gracefully and quietly.  

As we reached the top, we could see a light coming from the watch tower in the town square. They must of spotted us because a clump of black was advancing towards us. Iona must've seen to because we charged down. Disappearing from sight. We camped under a tree slightly further away from the foot of the mountain. 

I fell into a dreamless sleep. 

_____________

Something wet touched my foot. I groaned turning over. This time it touched my face. I bolted up with a start. Looking at the 'thing', I saw a small thing with 4 legs. Looking closer, I realised it was a dog with dark shaggy fur. Iona sensed another being in the tent. Sitting up she let out a small gasp. Not bothering to go back to sleep, we lit a light and wandered outside. That allowed us to get a good look at the dog impostor. He had black and brown longish fur (Note: It's a German Shepard). Iona looked contently at it, turning to me she said

'What should we call him?'

I signed, defeated.

'Smokey?'

'BOB!'

'Bob?'

'Yes! BOB!'

'Shadow?' 

'I like Smokey'

'Me too' 

Looking at the dog, we called out,

'Smokey!!' 

'Here Smokey, Smokey!'

The dog's ears picked up and he wandered over. 

Looks like this won't be so bad after all...